DNAiTECH WORKSHOP AUCKLAND - 30th March 2021 Reflection

 

The cool thing about DNAiTECH is that you do not need a specialized laboratory environment to operate this technology. Last week, DNAiTECH ran a training workshop for teachers in a community hall in Kohimarama, Auckland. 

These were one-day workshops for teachers around the country, and each workshop consists of an introduction to the theory of isothermal DNA amplification, hands-on use of the DNAiTECH instrument, analysis of an unknown E.coli DNA sample and extraction and analysis of E. coli microorganisms from a local stream, river, or beach. 

As councils grapple with implementing the Governments new freshwater policy and targets for swim ability, we as a nation must face the reality that our waterways in Aotearoa are not as clean as we would like to think they are, and the clean green mantra is often a fantasy. This map of the country’s waterways from the Ministry for the Environment shows vividly that in the areas of most intense population and intensive farming, our waterway quality is often in the zone of fair to poor.

DNAiTECH empowers students to determine the levels of E. coli and toxic cyanobacteria in their community waterways. There is no better way to engage students with science and technology than to give them the tools to test real-world samples. Let them be part of the collective social conscience, reminding us when we care for the land, we care for its people. 

DNAiTECH combines android smartphone technology with a simple Bluetooth connected handheld instrument that uses isothermal DNA amplification chemistry. Popular isothermal methods include loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), rolling circle amplification (RPA), recombinase polymerase amplification (RCA), helicase dependent amplification (HDA). Avoiding expensive on-board optical systems and thermocycling DNA amplification, DNAiTECH makes DNA technologies affordable for secondary education so that cool experiments can be done to complement the teaching of NCEA 2/3 science, molecular biology, environmental studies, and technology. The instrument is robust and lightweight. The smartphone captures many images during the DNA amplification process and the App processes the Evergreen dye incorporation into DNA product in real-time. For more technical information on how the DNAiTECH works to measure DNA concentration go to our in-field testing page. DNAiTECH is a versatile in-field instrument for education and the science community. It is lightweight, portable, and can be battery-powered, making it perfect for that immediate rapid result in the field.  Real-time quantitative DNA amplification is yours for a fraction of the cost of current DNA reading technologies. We support teachers by running regional workshops as well as selling instrumentation and classroom science kits and easy to use tests for specific environmental assays.

Athletic day in School

 15 march 2021

Athletics Day is always a great time of competitive performances, and friendly rivalry, with our four Houses pitching themselves against each other to be the dominant House in the annual event.

Senior students go early to assist in setting up for the event, and student House Leaders do an excellent job of motivating, encouraging and organising the students in their Houses. The athletic day starts with the houses chant. Every house March and came in a group and sit in the allocated area. Every house has a theme for sports day so they were marching on the ground while representing their theme. After that, the chant starts, First turn was kowhai, then Totata, Rata and in the last Puriri came for the chant. Students were very enthusiastic and their house leaders and mentors were encouraging them all the time.

After that, sports and games started. Different house students participated in the Discus throw, shotput, Hight jump, 100-meter race boys, 100-meter race girls, 200-meter race boys. And in the last, it was a 100-meter teachers race. 

The day ends with the winner of the day. Rata was in the first position, on the second Kowhai, On the third Puriri and fourth was Totara. Students participated very well and represent their houses very enthusiastically.

Students have to participate in school sports to increase confidence, mental alertness, and self-esteem. Sports are important in schools because it helps to teach various skills to students like leadership, patience, patience, team efforts, and social skills.

Planning to go Kelly Tarlton's with Level 3 Biology students.

 This year I have planned I will start year 13 biology with an internal assessment so that they can go on trips at the beginning of the year. Because last year they didn't get a chance to go out on any field trip due to COVID-19. I have started AS91604 (How an animal or birds (penguins) maintains internal body temperature). For the first two weeks, I discussed Homeostasis and how it works in humans, animals and birds. We learned basically in class. And then I planned an aquarium trip to Kelly Tarlton's So that students can visit the aquarium and learn more about penguins, habit, habitat and adaptations in Antarctica.

I booked their visit to Kelly Tarlton's and also booked an education session with one of the educators at the Aquarium. Students are really very excited and looking forward to going there and discuss penguins and how they live in cold and what they do when it summers. So, they have a lot many questions and they will discuss all the questions with an educator. Hopefully, this visit will help them in their science learning and assessment.

COVID-19 Vaccine strategy in New Zealand

 The Government’s goal is to give New Zealand and our Pacific neighbours' access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines as early as possible. This will help us to: control the virus in the long term, protect our communities, support our economic recovery, re-open our borders. This strategy outlines our approach. It makes sure the Government can: contribute to all aspects of global vaccine development, distribution and use, invest in research that supports global efforts, builds relationships and helps New Zealand get access to a vaccine, develop the ability to manufacture a vaccine, in case we need to make sure the way we regulate the vaccines, support research and enable manufacturing is fit for purpose use purchase agreements to secure supplies of vaccines. There’s never been this level of global collaboration amongst scientists and governments in vaccine development. Vaccine companies have been sharing their data all over the world, which has sped up the research process. It has also led to a number of innovations, such as the use of messenger RNA (mRNA) technology.

In New Zealand, applications for all new medicines (including vaccines) are assessed by the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (Medsafe). So COVID-19 vaccines can be made available as early as possible, Medsafe is streamlining its processes and assessing these vaccine applications ahead of normal applications.

Medsafe will only approve a vaccine for use in New Zealand once they are confident it complies with international standards and local requirements for quality, safety and efficacy. There is no ‘emergency use authorisation’ in New Zealand. The first group to be vaccinated are border workers, people working in managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities, and their household contacts. This is because they are most at risk of getting COVID-19. Border and MIQ workers include cleaners, nurses who do MIQ health checks, security staff, customs and border officials, airline staff, hotel workers. Household contacts include anyone over 16 who lives full-time or part-time with a border or MIQ worker. We don’t have any evidence yet that the vaccine will stop the transmission of the virus. To reduce the risk of people with a connection to the border getting COVID-19, we are offering the vaccine to both border workers and their household contacts. 

Level 3 lockdown in Auckland- 3 days

Unfortunately, It was another level 3 lockdown in Auckland. And as per government instructions Auckland was closed for 3 days. At this stage, teachers will continue online classes via google hangouts, emails or google docs. We can understand sudden announcements of the lockdown by the Prime Minister shocked everyone but we have to face this situation and be strong. So that we can fight with COVID-19.

Children and young people look to adults for guidance on how to react to stressful events. If parents or teachers seem overly worried, children’s and young people’s anxiety may rise. Parents and teachers can reassure children and young people that everyone is working together, from the Prime Minister down, to help people throughout the country stay healthy and to limit the spread of this virus.

As a teacher thinks about how your reactions could impact the learners. Take a quick break if things feel overwhelming, or notice and try some slow breathing, or concentrate on the sounds outside, anything that you know helps. You can express your feelings but base your words on facts and truth, and model how you want children and young people around you to behave. 

Our school is helping children continue their learning, online classes, Mentoring sessions and delivery of food packages. This will support their wellbeing, connection with others and their learning. Contact students via emails, texts, or phone calls are very important to know about how they are going or how they take care of themselves and their loved ones.

First week of 9KLE in school /Science Class(Reflection)

 Since the first day of school is scary for most students, I try to make their day more relaxing and less stressful with a fun activity that requires art and writing. I give each student one white piece of paper (Xerox paper is perfect). I tell my students that we are going to draw faces — not just ordinary faces, but wacky faces. First, I have my students write their names on the back, and then I tell them to draw a very large oval; they can add ears but nothing else. Then the students hand their paper to the left. Then the students add eyes and eyebrows to the existing face oval and ears. Then, pass the paper. Next, add a mouth. Then, pass the paper. Next, add hair and any other finishing touches. (I tell the kids that tattoos are not acceptable.) I also give them 5-6 minutes to draw and colour each facial feature they add. When the face is completed, it is given to the student whose name was on the back.

Now the writing begins. The picture of the face is a new student at your school. The students must write what it is like for this new student on his or her first day of school. Here are some writing suggestions: Was this person scared to come to the first day of school? Could he or she sleep the night before? What did he or she wear? Who took him to school? Did she meet anyone? The wonderful things about this project are that it brings out creativity, it's fun, and students soon forget any first-day jitters they may have! Also, it makes a wonderful item to display at Back-to-School Night! 

Word search-Improve Science Vocabulary(9KLe)

 Word searches for learners are available in a variety of themes and age-appropriate versions, which means that there is a word search out there for every type of child. Each word search features a list of words, some of which students will be familiar with, and some of which will be new. Academic vocabulary is key to mastery of any discipline. Scholars know the vocabulary of their discipline, and the first step towards vocabulary is exposure to the word itself. You can use word searches to do this, and you can use word searches for a self-test review. 

9KLe science class love to do a word search. After completing classwork or task, we try to do a science word search. Sometimes, word search is a reward for them after completion of classwork. Students really enjoy and look very happy while doing a word search. For me, it will improve their science vocabulary, spelling, boost up the brain, problem-solving skills and it's a fun activity for the learners.

"Teach-in ways which enable learners to learn from one another, to collaborate, to self-regulate, and to develop agency over their learning."

"Select teaching approaches, resources, and learning and assessment activities based on a thorough knowledge of curriculum content, pedagogy, progressions in learning and the learners."